Chapter 204: Off Course

The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted the silence of the surroundings, while slower but equally hurried steps could be heard behind them, accompanied by the heavy breathing of the one following the first.

"Wait, Mina! Mina! I can’t go on anymore. Can you stop for a moment?"

The maid stopped in her tracks, looked around in confusion, and murmured, "I don’t understand... We’re supposed to be around here..." She brought a hand to her lips and began biting her nails.

Bethany saw the worried look on her maid’s face and asked:

"What’s wrong?"

Mina continued looking around before finally turning her attention to the younger girl.

"We should already be close to the Weaver Empire, but the flora and fauna here don’t quite match."

The pink-haired girl frowned and looked around in confusion.

"Weaver? I’ve never heard of it."

"That’s because it’s beyond the Unnamed Lands. I thought we could avoid them and still reach it. Besides, it would take us much longer if we went through them, but it seems we ended up closer to the Beasts Federation than to the coast."

"My brother is on the coast? And, Mina, more importantly, are we lost?"

The maid frowned.

"Lost? Impossible. I’m impeccable with directions. I’d say we merely got a little sidetracked..." Her confidence dwindled with every word she spoke.

"Then where are we supposed to go?"

Mina lifted her head excitedly and pointed behind them.

"East!"

Bethany frowned.

"Are you sure it’s that way?"

"Absolutely. This time, we’ll get there correctly."

"Hmm, alright, but slow down. I can’t keep up with you if you go any faster..."

Mina nodded and moved closer to her so they could walk at the younger girl’s pace, though in her mind she was wondering whether they should have gotten a carriage, or if they could steal one now...

The Unliving shook that thought away, but seeing the little girl’s exhausted face made her feel guilty for dragging her along without thinking things through properly.

...

The council of the sea race was left in an uncomfortable state after Thalassa and Mireya departed.

"Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"

Oreon narrowed his eyes and looked at the people who remained in the room.

"Prepare the resources, and I don’t want any tricks this time."

"But—"

The king’s sharp gaze silenced the protest, though someone else was quick to speak up.

"Your Majesty, if that is what you want, we will do it, but you have to understand that the contribution made by the western district is negligible compared to the reef district."

"What contribution can they make if we never gave them the opportunity?"

The room fell silent.

It seemed the matter had been settled, but the doors opened, revealing the silhouette of a man.

"Nereon!"

The man who had just been called out to enthusiastically by the king gave a crooked smile and approached the man on the throne.

"Your Majesty!"

Coraline, standing to the side, could not contain herself either.

"Nereon!"

He gave her a slight nod, leaving her staring at him in fascination.

Oreon frowned and made a sound with his mouth to get his attention.

Nereon turned around with a pleased smile and asked:

"How is the princess’s fiancé?"

"Zakaer? Why are you asking about him?"

"Why wouldn’t I? He came to help us, didn’t he? I’ve always been interested in the strong, Oreon."

This time, he addressed him without much respect.

The king’s face showed slight discomfort at the direct address, but he ignored it and answered curtly:

"He’s fine. Thalassa returned, and Lumia is happy."

Nereon’s eyes widened in surprise, his composure breaking internally. He looked at the faces around him and sighed in relief when he saw that they did not seem to have changed, still showing admiration and respect.

"So she returned? It’s good to hear that she’s alright..."

"Hmph, although she returned with ’guests,’" a disdainful voice sounded.

"Coraline!" the king scolded.

"Forgive me, my king," she apologized with a small bow.

Nereon, however, was interested in the subject.

"More outsiders in Azure?" he asked, raising an eyebrow sarcastically.

"They are guests, Nereon."

"He’s a human, and a disrespectful one at that."

"CORALINE!"

The king’s pressure forced the woman to the floor.

Nereon positioned himself in front of her, reducing the pressure, and gave Oreon a warning glare.

The king settled back into his seat and explained:

"A human and a wolf woman accompanied her here. She only returned recently, so we haven’t had the chance to get to know them properly yet, but it’s true that the human didn’t make the best impression."

"No surprise there. Humans are the worst."

Nereon’s disdain was impossible to contain, and many of those present seemed pleased to hear him say it.

Yet deep down, he couldn’t help adding:

"Except my goddess."

"Did anything else happen during my absence?"

Coraline was about to say something, but the king’s angry look managed to silence her in time.

"Nothing important. Rather, how did the patrol go? Ereon came back with Thalassa and left again, saying he couldn’t abandon his post. Did you also come back just for a quick stop?"

Nereon shook his head.

"I believe we’re safe, Your Majesty. In fact, it would be good if you called Ereon back. It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and added:

"I didn’t see a single sign of corrosion for at least a thousand miles in every direction."

"Hmm..."

The king rested his head on his hand, his elbow against the armrest of his seat, deep in thought. The expectant eyes of everyone in the room pressured him.

"We could arrange something quickly..." he murmured, unconvinced.

...

Thalassa finished speaking with Lumia and arranging some matters related to the aid for Turbid Waters before making her way back toward where Cassian was staying, her steps hesitant.

Before opening the door, she made sure she couldn’t hear any embarrassing sounds. Once she was completely certain, she slowly opened it.

When she entered, the lights were off, and three lumps could be seen resting on the bed.

She looked around the room for a moment, hesitating, but gradually approached and, her face completely red with embarrassment, lay down beside the trio.

Cassian opened one eye, but just as he had done when Xana had secretly entered the room, he ignored her and continued resting. Before doing so, however, he let a teasing smile appear on his face—one that, fortunately, Thalassa would not see.